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Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium

Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium

Honoring the historic struggle of Western Pennsylvanians with disabilities to attain human and civil rights.

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HERL earns patent for enhanced mobility wheelchair

06/04/2021

In February, researchers from the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) were granted a patent for an innovative new wheelchair. The Mobility Enhancement Robotic Wheelchair, or MEBot for short, is capable of dealing with difficult, uneven terrain while keeping its user safe and providing a smooth ride. MEBot’s programming detects when it encounters surfaces of different steepness and compensates for it. Its six height-adjustable wheels work in a variety of modes that allow it to climb curbs and deal with other differences in elevation.

HERL is a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and UPMC Health System. View a video of MEBot.

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NOTE TO WEBSITE VISITORS

The language and terminology used in historical materials on this site reflect the context and culture of the interviewee(s), and may include stereotypes in words, phrases, and attitudes that were wrong then and are wrong now.

Rather than remove this content, Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium wants to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it, and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.

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